roberts



. e Du h S "P. M e h S 2 S T R E nD O R H m (No Model.)

BOWLING GREASE.

Patented Apr. 15, 1890.

2 Sheetsr-Sheet 2.

ma Rm B D Dm Rm M Hw .0 TB

- (No Model.

NO. 425551. Patented Apr. 15, 18 90.

UNITED STATES PATENT Orrion.

T IIOMAS H. ROBERTS, OF OWEN SOUND, ONTARIO, CANADA.

BOWLlNG-CREASE.

SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent No. 425,551, dated. April 15, 1890.- Application filed February 8, 1889. Serial hlo. 299,222. (No model.)

To all 1072,0122, it may concern:

Be it known that I, THOMAS HECTOR ROB- ERTS, gentleman, of the town of Owen Sound, in the county of Grey, in the Province of Ontario, Canada, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in BowlingOreases, of which the following is a specification.

The object of the invention is, first, to design a noiseless bowling-crease in which every ball will return to the bowler after passing the pins, and, secondly, to design simple mechanism by which the pins may be reset from the bowling end of the crease; and it consists, essentially, first, of a horizontal bowlingcrease, preferably covered with linoleum or similarmaterial, the surface of the crease being above the surface of a slanting floor formed between a rebounding cushion and the end of the crease, the said end of the crease being curved or angled toward its ed go or edges and toward a channel or channels formed on one or both sides of the said crease and slanting downwardly toward the bowling end of the said crease, and, secondly, in a light spindle extending from the end of each pin and through a plate or bar above the crease, a sphere or hemisphere being fixed to each spindle, a cup-shaped recess formed in the plate or bar to receive the sphere or hemisphere fixed to the spindle, and a weight fixed to the upper-end of the spindle to counterbalance the pin when it is knocked out of its vertical position, said spindle being connected directly or indirectly with a cord extending to the bowling end of the crease, the whole being otherwise arranged substantially as hereinafter more particularly explained.

Figure l is a perspective View of a double crease constructed in accordance with my invention. Fig. 2 is a cross-section of the said crease. Fig. 3 is a view of a noiseless pin made in accordance with my invention. Fig. 4; is a perspective view of a single crease provided with my pin-setting attachment. Fig. 5 is a perspective detail showing a crease having a single return-channel.

In the drawings like letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the different figures.

A represents the howling-crease, which I cover with linoleum, cork, or other similar material on which the balls may be dropped without making a noise.

B is the end of the crease on which the bowler stands when delivering the ball.

D is a floor placed between the reboundingcushion E and the end of the crease A. This floor D slants downwardly from the cushion E to a point below the surface of the crease A, the end of which is curved or angled toward its edge or edges, so that every ball, as it falls off the end of the crease A onto the slanting floor D, will be directed toward the channel F,made near the edge and belowthe surface of the bowling-crease A. This channel F slants toward the end B of the crease, in order that every ball, when it falls onto the slanting floor D, will return by the channel F to a point near the bowler.

I prefer that the pin end of the crease A should be shaped as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, in which case there will be a channel F on each side of the crease A; but of course the same effect would be produced by forming the end of the crease A like that indicated in Fig. 5, in which case only a single returnchannel would be employed.

In order to prevent a noise by the falling of the pins, I form a series of rubber rings 0. around each pin G, and I also line the channel F and other parts against which the balls may come in contact with cork or other soft material.

In addition to the channels F, I form inner channels G, which are merely intended to receive any balls which may fall off the crease as they are being bowled. These channels G may either be horizontal or they may slant slightly toward the pin end of the crease, so as to carry the balls toward that end.

In Fig. 4: I show my pin-setting device applied to my improved crease. In this view it will be noticed that each pin G has a spindle I rigidly attached to and extending from its end up through a hole made in the plate J, which is suitably supported above the crease A, as indicated.

I do not confine myself to the exact shape of the plate .I, as various equivalents for the said plate might be suggested by any mechanic.

A sphere or hemisphere K is fixed to each spindle I and fits into a cupped recess made in the plateJ or its equivalent. These spheres are the pivots on which the pins rock.

L is a weight fixed to the upper end of the spindle I and designed to overbalance and carry into a substantially horizontal position the pin G when the said pin is knocked out of. its vertical position by a ball striking it. The pins are knocked up against the under side of the plate J and are held there by the weights L.

A cord M is fixed to the end of each spindle I and is connected to the cross-head N. This cross-head is carried in suitable guides, as indicated, and a cord 0 is attached to it, and, after passing over suitable pulleys, is carried to a point at or near the bowling end of the crease, as indicated in Fig. 4.

WVhen the pins G have been knocked out of their vertical position, they can be all reset by simply drawing upon the cord 0, which raises the cross-head N, and as all the pins are connected to this cross-head by their respective cords M and spindles I they are simultaneously set into the vertical position indicated in Fig.5 and are independently supported, so that one pin maybe knocked over without interfering with the others.

With the View of more effectually guiding the pins G into their vertical position, I fix a plate P immediately above the ends of the spindles I, through which plate the cords M must pass before they reach the cross-head N.

Guiding-tubes Q are fixed to the plate P around each hole, through which the cords M pass. When the pins G are in the vertical position indicated in Fig. 5, the cords M are slack, so as not to prevent the pins upsetting when they are struck with a ball. WVhen the cross-head N is elevated for the purpose of raising the pins, the cords M are made taut, drawing the pins G into a Vertical position. The plate Pacts as a stop to prevent the pins G being elevated more than is sufficient to place each one into a vertical position.

From this description it will be noticed that a bowling-crease made in accordance with my invention will not only be practically noiseless, but that a game may be enjoyed without any trouble of resetting the pins or returning the balls bowled toward them, as the pins may be reset in the manner described and the balls at the lower. end of the slanting floor and,

slanting downwardly toward the bowling end of the said crease and terminating substantially on a level therewith, whereby the balls are automatically returned to the bowler, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

2. One or more pins G, arranged on a bowl-' ing-crease A, each pin having a light spindle I extending from its end and projecting through a plate J, supported above the pin end of the crease, in combination with'a sphere or hemisphere K, fixed to each spindle I and fitting into cupped recesses made in the plate J, and a counterbalance-weight L, fixed to the upper end of the spindle I, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

3. One or more pins G, arranged on abowling-crease A, each pin having a light spindle I extending from its end and projecting through a plate J, supported above the pin end of the crease, a sphere or hemisphere K, fixed to each spindle I and fitting into cupped recesses made in the plate J, and a counterbalance-weight L, fixed to the upper end of the spindle I, in combination with acord M, fixed to each spindle I and connected at its other end with a cross-head N, which is operated, as described, by the cord 0, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

. 4:. One or more pins 'G, arranged on a bowling-crease A, each pin having a light spindle I projecting from its end and through a plate J, supported above the pin end of the crease, a plate P, with guiding-tubes Q, supported above the plate J, a sphere or hemisphere K, fixed to each spindle I and fitting into cupped recesses made in the plate J, and a counterbalance-weight L, fixed to the upper end of the spindle I, in combination with a cord M, fixed to each spindle I and connected at its other end with a cross-head N, which is operated, as described, by the cord 0, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

Owen Sound, January 24, 1889.

THOMAS H. ROBERTS. In presence of FRANK KING, G. T. FALKNIER. 

